Car journal lubricator



Nov. 24, 1959- Filed March 14, 1958 R. M. BLACK CAR JOURNAL LUBRICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Richard/KB Zach --Nov.-24, 1959 R. M. BLACK CAR JOURNAL LUBRICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1958 INVENTOR Rjchd/"dMBZflCk ATTORNEYS United States Patent CAR JOURNAL LUBRICATOR Richard M. Black, Long Island City, N.Y., assignor to Teddington Development Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application March 14, B58, Serial No. 721,381

Claims. (Cl. 308-88) The following specification relates to novel improvements in a car journal lubricator, suitable for installation in the present designs of journal boxes and axles.

Many devices have been designed to supply adequate quantities of lubricating oil to the journals of railway car axles. The requirements of such a device include ready installation without special tools or training. The device must deliver an adequate supply of oil to the rotating journal of the axle under all conditions. In addition, the device must be so designed as to permit ready replacement of worn parts.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a resiliently supported wicking member which will insure ample supply of oil to the journal from the bottom of the journal box.

A further object of the invention is to insure that the lubricator maintains its normal position lengthwise of the journal without risk of movement out of position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which will permit ready removal and replacement of the parts when worn.

As illustrating the invention I have shown the preferred form on the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a transverse vertical cross-section of a journal box equipped with the improved lubricator;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross-section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the lubricator, on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the journal and lubricator; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the wick portion of the lubricator.

The novel lubricator comprises a resilient frame or plate which is held in definite position beneath and longitudinally of the axle journal. The frame member is covered with a wicking member securely held and presenting lubricating edges to the bottom surface of the journal through the length of the latter.

The action is such that any vertical movement of the journal relative to the bottom of the journal box will squeeze the lubricating member and bring an increased flow of oil to the journal surface.

The wicking member consists of two parts. The outer part is a fabric which will withstand constant rubbing action against the journal and at the same time is sufficiently absorbent to permit the oil to pass through to the journal. This cover is firmly secured at opposite ends to the supporting resilient member.

Furthermore, space is provided between the resilient member and the cover to be occupied by an absorbent felt pad or the like which will promote the upward flow of the oil.

The attachment of this lubricator to the journal box is such that relative vertical movement of the two will promote the feed of oil.

On the drawings I have shown a journal box 11 of the usual and well known type. The inner walls of this journal box are provided at their upper portions with lugs 12, 12 for the usual purposes and which in the present instance are utilized as anchorage for the lubricator presently designed.

The journal 13 of the car axle projects through the journal box in the usual manner and is provided at its free end with the customary collar 14.

The novel lubricator is provided in three parts of which the main support is a spring plate 15.

This plate may be a sheet metal member or a porous screen or the like. The essential properties are that it should have a resilient spring that is stilt along the bottom and conforms to the contour of the bottom of the journal box. The ends 16, 16 of the spring 15 are rolled into helical or spiral coils, as illustrated.

I Bails 17, 17 are provided for holding the spring plate 15 in the proper position relative to the bottom of the journal box 11. These bails or retainers are in the form of closed hoops of stiff metal rod or the like. 7

The hoops extend the full width of the spring plate 15 and are turned upwardly at the end to provide retaining means for the plate. The ends 18, 19 are tapered upwardly toward the center where the top 20 has a notch 21. This notch 21 fits beneath the lugs 12, 12 or optionally lock under the anti-waste roll ledge. This permits the lubricator to be installed readily and latched into position beneath the lugs so that no longitudinal movement is possible.

The wick consists of two parts. The outer part is a fabric cover 22 which may be woven or felt. It is preferably made of a synthetic plastic felt, such as that sold on the market as Dacron. Any other suitable material, however, may be used which will provide a durable, absorbent surface. It will be noted that the cover 22 is slightly wider than the spring plate 15.

The cover 22 is also somewhat longer than the plate 15 in order to provide two end pockets 23, 23. These pockets may normally extend approximately one inch back of the ends of the cover 22.

The cover is substantially larger than the spring plate 15 to provide a space in which to receive a filling pad 24. This pad is preferably a felted batt also of synthetic fibers. For example, one suitable fiber would be that commonly known as Arnel which is provided as a flexible batt. This batt is stitched or otherwise attached along the inner surface of the cover 22. As shown in Fig. 5, the batt is slightly narrower than the cover 15 and extends practically to the pockets 23, 23.

The combined cover 22 and the batt 24 are wrapped around the spring plate and pockets slipped over the ends of the coils. The bails may now be slipped into the coils as shown in Fig. 3 with the tapering sides extending upwardly.

The coils can now be compressed to force the bails into the journal box with the notch portions 21 around the lugs 12. The felt pad 24 is thus held substantially free of compression on the bottom of the journal box. It will however be compressed by any vertical movement of the journal, due to the fact that the journal bears down upon the coil ends. In this movement the retainers or bails 17 are not dislodged from the lugs 12.

However, the ends of the cover 22 are in constant contact with the cylindrical surface of the journal. Thus the latter is amply lubricated. Relatively vertical move ment between the journal and the journal box compresses the lubricator and increases the delivery of oil through the batt to the cover at the points of contact.

The preferred form of the invention has been described above by way of example. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is capable of various embodiments and changes in material, proportions, and minor details are possible within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A lubricator for a car journal comprising a resilient sheet member having oppositely coiled ends, a bail resting in each coiled end, means in the opposite side of each bail for attachment to a journal box, a cover overlying the sheet member and having means for holding the ends of the member, and an absorbent filling pad extending substantially the full distance between the end holding means of the sheet member beneath the cover.

2. A lubricator for a car journal comprising a resilient plate having oppositely coiled ends, a bail resting in each coiled end, a notch in the opposite side of each bail for attachment to a journal box, a cover overlying the plate and having end pockets holding the ends of the plate, and an absorbent filling pad extending inside the cover substantially the full distance between the end pockets.

3. A lubricator for a car journal comprising a resilient plate having oppositely coiled ends, a bail resting in each coiled end, a notch in the opposite side of each bail for attachment to a journal box, a fabric cover overlying the plate and having end pockets holding the ends of the plate, and an absorbent felt pad extending inside the cover substantially the full distance between the end pockets.

4. A lubricator for a car journal comprising a resilient plate having oppositely coiled ends, a bail resting in each coiled end, means on the opposite side of each bail for attachment to a journal box, a fabric cover having end pockets holding the ends of the plate, and an absorbent felt pad fastened to the inner surface of the cover and extending substantially between the cover pockets.

5. A lubricator for a car journal comprising a resilient sheet member having oppositely coiled ends, a bail resting in each coiled end and against the sides of the sheet member, inwardly sloping ends on the bail, a notch centrally of the upper side of the bail for attachment to a journal box, a cover overlying the sheet member and having means for holding the ends of the member, and an absorbent filling pad extending inside the cover substantially the full distance between the end holding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,556,513 Armstrong June 12, 1957 

